Extension table hardware



Nov. 27, 1956 c. F. KAYLoR EXTENSION TABLE HARDWARE Filed Aug. 23,' 1954 United States Patent() EXTENSION TABLE HARDWARE Carl F. Kaylor, South Gate, Calif.

Application August 23, 1954, Serial No. 451,508

1 Claim. (Cl. 311-71) This invention relates to slide means connecting the halves of a center-insertion table and more particularly contemplates the provision of novel, simplified and improved extension hardware adapted to connect table halves.

Center-insertion extension tables, particularly those that are produced for breakfast room and dinette use, in their modern form, are light yet strong and do not require the usual heavy slide mechanism to retain proper alignment of the table halves. In fact, modern tables are made with peripheral anges that are so shallow that the conventional slide mechanisms are exposed to view and detract from the neat appearance of the table. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide extension hardware that is etcient in operation and yet so shallow as to be well hidden even by a shallow table flange.

Another object of the invention is to provide extremely simple and, therefore, inexpensive extension hardware that is also light weight and quite strong.

A further object of the invention is to provide hardware of the character indicated that can be supplied to table manufacturers as simple units that merely require securement in operative place by means of screws.

The invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawing merely shows and the following description merely describes, one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a partly broken top plan view of an extension table provided with the present extension hardware.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view as taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the extended position of the table and hardware.

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged cross-sectional view as taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

The table that is illustrated forms no part of the invention, the same comprising similar top halves 5 that join along a line 6 and are adapted to be separated (Fig. 3) to accommodate an extension board or leaf (not shown). In the present case, each top half comprises a plywood layer 7 and a layer of Masonite or comparable molded material 8, the two layers totalling about an inch of thickness. In the usual manner, the upper face of layer 7 is lined with a decorative and wear-resistant coating 9. The table halves shown are each pro- ICC vided with a peripheral ange 10 of metal, plastic or the like and, in practice, said ange is some two and onehalf inches wide. Therefore, the lower edge of such flanges extends but one and one-half inches below the under face of layer 8. This description of the table is intended as exemplary of breakfast or dinette tables as at present designed, and variations will not affect the operation of the extension hardware herein contemplated.

The extension hardware thatis. illustrated comprises, generally, two similar units 11 each comprising a pair of brackets 12, said pair being connected by an elongated member 13, and stop means 14 to limit contraction and extension of said -pairs of brackets. As shown in Fig. 1, the units 11 are arranged in parallel relationship and preferably symmetrically beneath the table. The brackets 12 are fastened to the tops 5, as by screws 15, one bracket of each pair beneath each top 5 and preferably the same distance from the meeting edges of said tops.

Each bracket 12 is preferably formed of sheet metal to be light in weight. Each bracket comprises a base plate 16 and end walls 17 integrally bent at right angles from said base plate. To stiien the bracket, the same is provided along the base plate with beads or ribs 18 that terminate at their ends in embossments 19 that are effective at the bends between plate 16 and walls 17 to render said walls quite rigid despite the thin gauge of the metal used. The mentioned screws 15 pass through suitably placed holes in plate 16 and thus fasten the plate to the under face of the table top.

Each wall 17 is formed with an opening 20 of a size and shape to slidingly receive the elongated member 13. In this case, said openings are round to conform to the cylindrically tubular member shown. To provide suitable bearing for member 13, the metal of walls 17 is drawn laterally to form relatively wide inwardly-directed bearings 21 in which member 13 is guided. Said bearings 21 of each bracket are aligned and their distance from the base plate the same for each bracket.

The member 13 extends through the aligned bearings of two brackets and, thereby, aligns said brackets. If said member 13 is cylindrically tubular, then the brackets may adjust themselves angularly relative to each other to compensate for any unevenness there may be in the table top.

The stop means 14 comprises end stops 22 on the opposite ends of member 13 and outward of the brackets through which said member extends, and a middle stop 23 between each pair of brackets.

Said stops are spaced apart a distance lgreater than 4the length of the bracket and are carried by member 13. Said stops may comprise bent-out sheared portions of said member or, as shown, cotter pins or the like. Regardless how provided, said stops serve as abutments limiting relative sliding movement of member 13 and the brackets 12.

It will be noted from the several views that the slide means thus provided are effectively hidden by even the shallow flange 10 and that two units 11 (three may be used for extremely wide tables) elfectively align the table tops both when closed, as in Figs. 1 and 2, and open, as in Fig. 3.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is now contemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is, therefore, not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and-desired-to be securedv by'Letters Patent is:

Extension table hardware cumprising a pair of similar brackets adapted to be attahed to said table, each of said brackets having a pairof end-bearing walls, an elongatedl "tubular,v member` extending between said bracketsrfandvthroughtsai@ bearing= walls, anZ integralA stop loclatediin.. the.- centerL of said,l`r tubnlanmember, and a pairA of'integrai end stopsflocatedat the ends of--said tubularl member, oneof said,brackets beingrlocated between one endcstopandithe center'- stop, andthe other bracket being located: betweenfthe otherI end stop and the center stop, and said'Y stops@ being adapted to. have` abutting engage nient; with theI `of said brackets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Beaudet July 10, 1906 Gruender Feb. 15, 1910 Vandagrii Mar. 24, 1931 De Boer June 9, 1936` Schigut Aug. 18, 1942 Booth Sept. 9, 1947 Farrar .Tune 15, 1948 Booth May 23, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS France Oct. 17, 1928 i 

